Anonymous Federal Worker

My supervisor was called in on a very quick turn. They had like one hour where she and all the other, they call them the team directors, all of them come in together. And now they have a list of everybody who is a probation employee. And they have to write a justification to make decisions. Do you want to retain this person or no?

My supervisor was called in on a very quick turn. They had like one hour where she and all the other, they call them the team directors, all of them come in together. And now they have a list of everybody who is a probation employee. And they have to write a justification to make decisions. Do you want to retain this person or no?

And then you have to write a justification for why you want to keep them. And they had 200 characters to write this justification up.

And then you have to write a justification for why you want to keep them. And they had 200 characters to write this justification up.

And then on our team, it became really apparent that Doge was on the scene. We learned about people having interviews with folks that were not government employees, regardless of whether they were probation or not. I was nervous because I didn't know exactly what to expect, but I knew I was being evaluated for fit by this person who likely knows very little about how government functions.

And then on our team, it became really apparent that Doge was on the scene. We learned about people having interviews with folks that were not government employees, regardless of whether they were probation or not. I was nervous because I didn't know exactly what to expect, but I knew I was being evaluated for fit by this person who likely knows very little about how government functions.

I entered the meeting, video on, and I saw this young man, one of the Doge lads. And it felt like I was going to a job interview with somebody I didn't like, and I would never work there. It just made me sick to my stomach. And all that's going through my mind is like, here I am, I'm going to be judged by somebody that's not quite half my age in a 15 minute call, like 15 minutes.

I entered the meeting, video on, and I saw this young man, one of the Doge lads. And it felt like I was going to a job interview with somebody I didn't like, and I would never work there. It just made me sick to my stomach. And all that's going through my mind is like, here I am, I'm going to be judged by somebody that's not quite half my age in a 15 minute call, like 15 minutes.

And the hiring process took almost six months for me. So, you know, I went through a lot to get the job, but it seemed like I didn't have to go through much to lose it.

And the hiring process took almost six months for me. So, you know, I went through a lot to get the job, but it seemed like I didn't have to go through much to lose it.

Probationary employees do have rights. They cannot be fired without cause. And I know I'm not a low performer, so I started tracking every bit of work I did.

Probationary employees do have rights. They cannot be fired without cause. And I know I'm not a low performer, so I started tracking every bit of work I did.

The stress is starting to build, like jobs really not secure at this point. It's like contraction in my stomach and chest. I started to like not be able to eat or sleep.

The stress is starting to build, like jobs really not secure at this point. It's like contraction in my stomach and chest. I started to like not be able to eat or sleep.

I was working for the Department of Energy, and the 13th day before Valentine's Day, I had been following the news all day and reading that agencies were planning to let folks go, and I was very nervous. So I had my work phone on me after I signed off for the day, and I had been checking my email probably every 10 minutes.

I was working for the Department of Energy, and the 13th day before Valentine's Day, I had been following the news all day and reading that agencies were planning to let folks go, and I was very nervous. So I had my work phone on me after I signed off for the day, and I had been checking my email probably every 10 minutes.

And I ended up falling asleep on the couch because I just couldn't, I wasn't ready for bed. I wasn't ready. I was distressed. So I heard my workstation sort of alarm. I had forgotten to turn off my speakers, which sounds kind of funny, but if I don't turn off my speakers, I can hear my laptop make an alarm in the other room. So I hear a message come in. It wakes me up.

And I ended up falling asleep on the couch because I just couldn't, I wasn't ready for bed. I wasn't ready. I was distressed. So I heard my workstation sort of alarm. I had forgotten to turn off my speakers, which sounds kind of funny, but if I don't turn off my speakers, I can hear my laptop make an alarm in the other room. So I hear a message come in. It wakes me up.

And I try to open up my email, and it's not loading. So then... I tried to sign into my laptop. It did not work. And so I tried again. Did not work. I shut down and restarted. It would not work. I was like, had an extremely tight chest. I was so shocked at the way it was playing out.

And I try to open up my email, and it's not loading. So then... I tried to sign into my laptop. It did not work. And so I tried again. Did not work. I shut down and restarted. It would not work. I was like, had an extremely tight chest. I was so shocked at the way it was playing out.